Tyndall Base Track reopened

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Solomon Cook
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

After several months of repaving and construction, the Tyndall Base Track was reopened Aug. 9, 2018.

The construction teams worked to replace the grass field with artificial turf, and the running track and exercise pad were resurfaced and painted.

“The field was upgraded to a better playing surface that can be used year-round and not require watering and cutting which would save money for the base lawn maintenance services, this should also cut down on the number of sports related injuries,” said Richard Byers, 325th Force Support Squadron sports director. “The running track was in need of resurfacing due to damage from wear and tear over the past 18 years.”

 

The project, beginning in March of 2018, was a quality-of-life improvement to the tune of $1.7 million. Although completed in five months, the planning and acquisition of funding was a process more than 3 years in the making.

Improvements to the base track were not only meant to increase the morale of Airmen who partake in sporting activities, it was also upgraded to ensure the readiness of Airmen from a fitness standpoint.

“The first fitness assessment held on the base track will be on Aug 14 at 7:30 a.m.,” said Tech. Sgt. Theron Hann, 325th FSS Tyndall Fitness Center NCO in charge. “The importance of certified tracks and running paths is that they have been engineered, inspected and maintained for optimal safety, injury prevention and performance.

 

“Those three factors are critical to ensuring that all Tyndall Airmen are fit to fight and medically qualified to deploy downrange, which ensures that this base and our Airmen are fulfilling their duty to support the warfighting mission,” he continued.

 

The base track is one of three locations in which Airmen have the capability to test their cardiovascular fitness. Having multiple options and locations assist Airmen to practice the way they play and ensure a maximum points depending on their preferred track.

“It's about providing options that promote optimal performance,” Hann said. “Each individual [may have] hindrances to performance.  Whether it be psychological or physiological there are factors that affect running performance.

 

“One person could have a previous injury that is aggravated by running on a hard surface so they prefer to run on a shock-absorbent track,” Hann further elaborated. “Another individual may get discouraged by the monotony of running six laps on a circular track, so they would prefer running the NCOA Track that is only two laps and with more of a variance in terrain.  These are just two examples; there are many other reasons why it's always better to provide more options than less.”

 

As Airmen are now able to use the track, members of the 325th FSS look forward to seeing members of Team Tyndall enjoy the new amenities, with hopefully more to come.

“It's just a wonderful feeling to know that the Airmen will be getting a better multi-purpose field to be proud of and play on,” Byers said. “We still have a few things that we would like to have done with this project. We are looking to add a new wireless scoreboard to the field and relocate it directly across from the bleachers. Also, we are looking into trying to get the softball fields upgraded to artificial turf in the near future.”